Cherries Jubilee

Cherries Jubilee is made with sweet-tart cherries, sticky sugar, and smoky bourbon and served over creamy vanilla ice cream!
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Y’all this Cherries Jubilee is straight fire… literally. It’s a classic that is as delish as it is iconic. Sweet and tart cherries get an upgrade with boozy notes of smoky bourbon. It’s all caramelized with sugar turning into the perfect dessert topping. Drizzle this cherries jubilee recipe on creamy ice cream or cheesecake and serve it up when you wanna get all fancy.

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A glass filled with vanilla ice cream topped with cherries jubilee and orange zest ready to serve.

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I own a lot of cookbooks y’all. Probably close to 1,000. My collection started with my Mississippi big mama’s group of worn and tattered Church cookbooks filled with pages of old school gems. Those are the real deal. Nowadays, I will go in a bookstore and buy as many glossy cookbooks filled with bright food photos as I can find. I love immersing myself in a different chef’s food perspective. This cherries jubilee recipe caught my eye in the Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations.

Y’all its filled with recipes made to bridge the traditional African-American table and 21st century flavors. The author Nicole has such a savvy way of connecting her readers to Juneteeth and Black culture. You will love this recipe for its effortless elegance y’all.

A cherry jubilee sauce over vanilla ice cream with zested orange ready to serve

What is Cherries Jubilee?

Cherries Jubilee is a classic dessert that is as easy as it gets. Tart cherries get boozy and sweet with alcohol and sugar. Then you throw in other ingredients to really elevate the flavor like rich butter, the acidity of citrus, and cornstarch, a thickening agent. The cherries are then flambรฉed to deepen all that goodness and burn off excess alcohol. 

The Lowdown of the Best Cherry Jubilee Recipe

  • Cuisine Inspiration: Classic American
  • Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop Flambรฉ
  • Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
  • Key Flavor: Tart and Sweet Cherries with a Kick of Booze
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Cherries Jubilee Recipe

Cherries in a white rate, oranges, butter, and alcohol in separate bowls to make a cherry sauce recipe
  • Bing CherriesGrab you some bing cherries that are already pitted for convenience. They are super sweet, tart and juicy y’all. Start this recipe off right with a great base.
  • TangerinesMost cherry jubilee recipes call for lemon juice but this tangerine flavor is so perfectly sweet in comparison to the cherry tartness.
  • Unsalted Butter- The butter gives so much richness and smoothness to this sauce. I would go for a high-quality high fat brand.
  • Sugar- Fine granulated sugar is the move here to caramelize.
  • Alcohol- Traditional versions of cherries jubilee recipes call for brandy but we go for bourbon and American whiskey here because it gives a fiery smoky finish.
  • Cornstarch- Cornstarch helps to thicken the syrup until its luscious and coating the back of a spoon. 
  • Kosher Salt- A pinch of salt makes all of these complex flavors pop. It also balances the sweetness.
  • Vanilla Ice Cream Thereโ€™s no such thing as cherries jubilee without a big ole scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. Or two if you are like me. Add some whipped cream too for extra creamy fun.

How to Make Cherries Jubilee

Step 1: Start the Sauce

  1. Heat up the tangerine juice and butter over medium heat. Do try to speed this process up by cranking up the heat. Have a little patience y’all.
  2. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Keep that wrist whisking until everything is nice and smooth.

Step 2: Add in Cherries and Light them Up!

  1. Add the cherries and stir to combine. Bring the cherries to a simmer and let them cook for a few minutes. Stick close by and stir occasionally! You don’t want the syrup to reduce too much and burn the cherries. 
  2. Now, itโ€™s time to flambรฉ. Pour the whisky over the cherries and carefully ignite it with a long nosed lighter or long match. Let the flame die out naturally. The fire burns off quickly and leaves you with a beautiful, caramelized, intense sauce.

PRO TIP: If flambรฉing indoors, check for anything that could catch fire overhead or on the sides of the stove. Don’t stand too close to the pan or lean over it as you add the liquor and be sure to let the flame die out naturally! 

a collage of butter being added to a pot along with butter melted and ingredients stirred in to make cherry jubilee

How to Serve this Cherries Jubilee Recipe

Recipe Substitutions

  • Cherries: If you can’t get the bing cherries, you can definitely grab some Rainer or Lambert cherries. The flavor might be a bit different. You can also grab frozen cherries as well. Just make sure you thaw them completely and drain all liquid before using in the cherry sauce recipe.
  • Alcohol: No bourbon or whiskey lying around? Grab some rum, brandy or even an orange liqueur. You can even sub out alcohol all together and go with a cherry or apple juice. You will just skip the flambe effect.
  • Cornstarch: Grab some tapioca starch, arrowroot powder or flour to help thicken your sauce when cornstarch isn’t around.
  • Citrus: Swap out the tangerines for oranges, lemons or even limes.

Recipe Variations and Additions

  • Vanilla: Adding some vanilla bean to this will add such a wonderful intense depth of flavor.
  • Spice it Up: Add a kick to this cherry jubilee with some grated fresh ginger. It will spice the cherries up. Or you can add in a dash of cayenne or chili flakes.
  • Add some fruit: Throw in some fruit like plums or peaches for a wonderful flavor combo. The cherries complement stone fruit so well.
  • Chocolate: This cherries jubilee is the perfect combo with a drizzle of ganache on top of vanilla ice cream.

Expert Tips and Tricks

  • Use the Best Cherries and Prep Well: Fresh ripe cherries are your best bet for this cherry jubilee recipe. The cherries are the main event so don’t skimp here. They should be deep in color, plump and firm. When prepping them to cook, make sure you remove as much moisture from them as possible. Pat them dry with paper towels so the sauce isn’t diluted with too much liquid.
  • Adjust Sweetness: Cherries vary in their sweetness so the sugar in this recipe is really a guide. Taste your sauce and adjust based on your preference. Do you boo!
  • Watch your Flambรฉ: Make sure folks stand a safe distance away when you get ready to light it up. Make sure you also keep a lid nearby just in case you gotta extinguish some flames. Tilt the pan away from you for safety as well when you light with a long match or grill lighter.
  • Don’t Overcook: You want the cherry shape to stay intact so don’t overcook boos. The more you cook, the mushier they will become.
A glass bowl with cherry jubilee over vanilla ice cream with orange zest ready to serve

How to Store Cherries Jubilee

Store any leftover cherries jubilee in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers last up to 3 days max.

When you want to reheat, gently warm in a pan or in the microwave until warmed through. Just don’t let the cherries turn to mush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to flambe cherries jubilee?

If the thought makes you nervous, you donโ€™t have to flambรฉ cherries jubilee. Just cook until the cherries soften and the sauce is thick. It will still be delicious but you won’t have the caramelized flavor this process gives.ย 

Can you use frozen cherries in cherry jubilee?

Yep for sure boos! You can also grab frozen cherries as well. Just make sure you thaw them completely and drain all the liquid before using in the cherry sauce recipe.

Can you make cherries jubilee in advance?

Yep for sure! You can just make the recipe as is then store in the fridge. When you are ready to serve, you can reheat gently on the stove or even in the microwave to warm through. Just be careful not to overcook so the cherries don’t get mushy.

Do I need to pit the cherries before using

Yep, you should definitely use pitted cherries in this sauce. Either grab them already pitted for convenience or you can use a cherry pitter. If you don’t have a pitter, simply slice a cherry in half and remove the pit with a small spoon.

Can I substitute the alcohol?

Yep! You can totally just sub in cherry juice, orange juice or apple juice. It will have a similar taste. You just won’t have the flambe effect.

Best Summer Fruit Recipes

A glass of ice cream with a cherries jubilee ready to serve

Cherries Jubilee

Cherries Jubilee is made with sweet-tart cherries, sticky sugar, and smoky bourbon and served over creamy vanilla ice cream!
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course: Dessert
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 4 tbsp tangerine zest from 2 tangerines
  • 1/2 cup tangerine juice from same 2 tangerines
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 stick
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 lb fresh Bing cherries pitted
  • 1/3 cup bourbon or American whiskey

Instructions

  • Scoop the ice cream into individual bowls or one large serving bowl and freeze until ready to serve.
  • Zest and juice the tangerines; set the zest aside and pour the juice into a large saucepan. Add the butter and place the pot over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the sugar, salt, and cornstarch and whisk until smooth.
  • Add the cherries and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then cook 2 to 3 minutes, until the cherries have softened slightly and the sauce is thickened.
  • If cooking indoors, check for anything that could catch fire overhead or off to the sides of the stove. If cooking outdoors, make sure you have a place to put the hot pan.
  • Pour the whisky over the cherries and carefully ignite it with a long nosed lighter or long match. Let the flame die out naturally.
  • Immediately pour the cherries and sauce into the bowls over the ice cream. Finish with the tangerine zest.

Notes

HOW TO FLAMBร‰ CHERRIES
Flambรฉing is very simple. The fire burns off quickly and leaves you with a beautiful, caramelized, intensely flavored sauce. Use a long lighter or match, though!
If flambรฉing indoors, check for anything that could catch fire overhead or off to the sides of the stove. If outdoors, make sure you have a place to put the hot pan.
Make sure folks stand a safe distance away when you get ready to light it up. Make sure you also keep a lid nearby just in case you gotta extinguish some flames. Tilt the pan away from you for safety as well when you light with a long match or grill lighter.
Do not stand too close to the pan or lean over it as you add the liquor and be sure to let the flame die out naturally!
If the thought makes you nervous, you donโ€™t have to flambรฉ cherries jubilee. Just cook until the cherries softened and the sauce is thick. It will still be delicious!
LEFTOVER STORAGE
Store any leftover cherries jubilee in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I like to use glass mason jars! Leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days; they can either be eaten cold or warmed through in a pan, stirring frequently.

Nutrition

Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 804IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 1mg
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Filed Under:  Dessert and Baking, Seasonal Recipes, Stovetop, Summer Recipes

Comments

  1. I made this with dark cherries and vegan butter and ice cream. I know that is a lot of modifications, but I wanted to let you know that it turned out amazing!

  2. Every time i visit your site to check new recipes. Every time you surprise me. That’s just a delicious recipe with cherries. Thanks again for your wonderful recipes.

  3. I’m obsessed with all things cherry right now, so I can’t wait to try this Cherries Jubilee!

  4. I have never had cherries jubilee but this looks so gorgeous! We are having friends over this weekend so this will be dessert.

  5. This is exactly what I’m going to make with all the cherries currently in my fridge. Cherries jubilee is the perfect summertime dessert and it’s going to go great with our barbecue on Friday.

  6. MMMM….these were amazing! Great way to use up some leftover cherries I had–kids LOVED it over ice cream!!

5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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